# What exactly is the 'dark' in 'Tall, Dark & Handsome'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791 "2004-02-12T04:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/1 "2004-02-12T04:34:44Z")
This description of the ideal man is so old I certainly don’t think it refers to him being ethnic in any way. 😃 So what is it supposed to mean? Evenly tanned like George Hamilton? ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/2 "2004-02-12T04:41:05Z")
I think Cary Grant is the ideal there (though I am not sure if he is that tall). Goege Hamilton just looks…microwaved. ---
**Author:** ![Ray\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ray\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ray_Walker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/3 "2004-02-12T04:43:32Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > This description of the ideal man is so old I certainly don’t think it refers to him being ethnic in any way. 😃 > > So what is it supposed to mean? Evenly tanned like George Hamilton? Actually, it’s “Tall, dark and handsome…with lots of money!!”, am I right? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/4 "2004-02-12T04:44:01Z")
Dark hair is what it means. Opposite of “fair”. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/5 "2004-02-12T04:44:39Z")
Dark eyes and hair. Apparently this is traditionally more attractive/masculine than a fair-haired guy with a florid complexion. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/6 "2004-02-12T04:52:32Z")
The word that came to mind was “swarthy”. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/7 "2004-02-12T06:01:52Z")
Cary Grant may be a better guess than anyone thought. He could be the original of the phrase, according to [this site](http://www.vdare.com/sailer/blonde.htm): > [@](#): > > Hollywood, for example, believes that ladies prefer their gentlemen tall, dark, and handsome, a phrase coined by Mae West about Cary Grant. The picture was _She Done Him Wrong_ from 1933. [Mae West](http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=519949): > [@](#): > > runs afoul of stalwart Salvation Army captain Cummings (Cary Grant), who warns her that she’s on the road to perdition. Lou sizes up the “Tall, dark ‘n’ handsome” Cummings, undressing him with her eyes and inviting him to “Come up ‘n’…see me sometime.” Only one problem with this theory. They seem to be remembering the line incorrectly. [This other review page](http://www.filmsite.org/shed.html) has a slightly different quote: > [@](#): > > Lou: Come up again, anytime. > Serge: I shall. And I hope you will be alone. > Lou: So do I. (He graciously kisses her extended hand) **Warm** , dark, and handsome. And it’s confirmed by [this other site](http://www.stoutman.com/wavs/oneliners/) which actually has the original dialog in a .wav file. So. Was West just parodying a current popular phrase? Or was her phrase corrupted into something more pleasing, as so many other famous phrases have been? ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/8 "2004-02-12T06:07:09Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > Dark eyes and hair. Apparently this is traditionally more attractive/masculine than a fair-haired guy with a florid complexion. Damn… ☹ [SIZE=1]Well I think I’m a manly man…[SIZE] ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/9 "2004-02-12T07:23:56Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Damn… ☹ > > [SIZE=1]Well I think I’m a manly man…[SIZE] Does that mean dark skin is out, then? I’ve got the other stuff (jury out on handsome) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/10 "2004-02-12T07:26:19Z")
What **Manduck** said. One specific meaning of “dark” is dark-haired. Men’s hair color isn’t discussed as much as women’s hair color, but there is some degree of prejudice against blond men. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/11 "2004-02-12T09:15:42Z")
In 1932, a year before _She Done Him Wrong_, director Merian C. Cooper asked actress [Fay Wray](http://www.rhino.com/features/liners/75597lin.html), “How would you like to star opposite the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood?” Which turned out to be King Kong. ---
**Author:** ![Soisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Soisi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soisi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/12 "2004-02-12T12:49:20Z")
“Dark” skin, in some people’s minds, is a sign of health and vigor. It definitely shows that the “dark” skinned person likes to be outdoors where the sun tans the skin. By comparing the “tall, dark and handsome” against the opposite, “short, pale and ugly” you can see how “dark” skin is more appealing. Plus, this quote comes from a time where Hollywood type folks were known for spending their leisure time around their own pools or at public pools in hotels and resorts. This applies particularly to the outdoorsy, swashbuckler types that drove the women wild like Cary Grant, Rock Hudson and Dash Riprock. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/13 "2004-02-12T15:15:23Z")
If you read popular fiction of a century ago, there was a distinct preference for dark-haired men. Blond-haired men were described as “towheads”, and there was a distinct impression that they were considered less manly than black-headed guys. At least one novel I read had the mother of a girl expressing concern that her intended was light-haired, and would thus be somehting of a disappointment. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/14 "2004-02-12T17:11:57Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > The word that came to mind was “swarthy”. Mmmmmmm, swarthy…🙂 Anyway, I always pictured the “dark” to be the Latin leading men who seemed to be all the rage in the 40’s. Like Ricardo Montleban, Ricky Ricardo, and Rosemary Clooney’s husband whose name I have totally forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/15 "2004-02-12T17:21:39Z")
Jose Ferrer is considered a dapper, Latin leading man? If you say so … :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skeptico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Skeptico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeptico)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/16 "2004-02-12T17:32:18Z")
A more contemporary example: Orlando Bloom in “Lord of the Rings” - not dark. Johnny Depp in “Sleepy Hollow” - not dark. Orland Bloom in “Pirates of the Caribbean” - dark. Johnny Depp in “Pirates of the Caribbean” - Darker. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/17 "2004-02-12T18:04:50Z")
It could also make sense as ‘dark’ as in ‘brooding’ ie. bad boy 🙂 But yeah, I also always assumed ‘dark haired’ was the intended meaning. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/18 "2004-02-12T18:15:03Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > Jose Ferrer is considered a dapper, Latin leading man? > > If you say so … :rolleyes: OK, I just Googled Jose Ferrer (i’ve actually never seen his earlier stuff) and I concede that he is _not_ the definition of tall, dark and handsome. Unfortunately, he resembles his son Miguel rather closely. I guess I just always assumed that he had been this leading man type in 40’s. :o Hmmm, I know there seemed to be a lot of Latin leading men in the 40’s but I’m having a surprising difficult time locating any site for them… ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/19 "2004-02-12T18:40:21Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > Mmmmmmm, swarthy…🙂 > > Anyway, I always pictured the “dark” to be the Latin leading men who seemed to be all the rage in the 40’s. Like Ricardo Montleban, Ricky Ricardo, … Ricky Ricardo?? Lucy’s Ricky? Please tell me there is another “Ricky Ricardo” out there - 😛 ---
**Author:** ![august9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7993a0/32.png) [@august9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/august9)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791/20 "2004-02-12T18:48:32Z")
Tall, dark and handsome = dark hair, dark eyes, but not necesseraly swarthy. Definitely not “microwaved” 😛 I’ve always liked that type of looks myself - unfortunately it’s quite rare in Denmark ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-dark-in-tall-dark-handsome/228791.md?page=2)